The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-30
NicnIlct.

@filOfttAs
The memory OF the French in our
western states is kept in the name OF
many rivers and lakes, as well as OF
towns and streets. La Sale, Mar
quette and Joliet are familiar this side
OF the Mississippi. They were. early
explorers and missionaries, lenders o.
bands, or solitary pioneers, the first
white men to penetrate so Ear into
the continent. Their story, romantic
and heroic as it is, will often be told.
1t belongs to the early colonial histo-
ny OF this country and Of Canada.
But beyond the Mississippi we meet
the name OF Nicollet, also French
man, whose story, although it goes
back only about fifty years, neverthe-
less deserves to be told.
Joseph N. Nicollet was born in
Savoy in 1856. His origin was hum
BILE and obscure. AS q boy he was
herdsman's assistant, and he did not
learn to read until he was twelveyear
old. This lack OF early advantages
did not prevent the young man from
becoming proficient in mathenatlc
at the age OF nineteen.
In France Nicollet was q valued
member OF the Acadamy of Sciences,
and for years he held professorship
OF astronomy. Financial reverses IN
1880 led to his coming to this country,
and he remained here until his death
in 1S43.
His plan upon coming here was to
spend five years in geographical re-
searches. The early discoveries OF his
countrymen had interested him, and
he wished to preserve their memory.
He seems to have undertaken this
work on his own account, with no
thought of being employed by our
government.
Nicolet explored on his own account
much OF the country along the Missis-
sippi. The results OF his labor were
OF 80 great Importance that the atten-
ton OF the government was called to
his work, and in 1888 he was engaged
to make complete survey OF all the
great prairie region between the
Mississippi and the Missouri.
1t was upon this survey that Ere
mont was assistant to the French
geographer, and gained bis earliest ex-
periencs in that work and life. The
general gives in his mentors several
pleasant and interesting notices OF
the man. 1t is easy to see, in one
brief mention OF him, the enthusiasm
and the energy which raised the OBJ
scure youth to q manhood OF COM
manding eminence.
"In the stir OF frontier life, Mr.. MIC
ollet felt no interest and took no
share; horse and dog were nothing to
him. His manner of life had never
brought him into their companion
ship, and the congenial work he now
had in charge engrossed his attention
and excited his Imagination. His
mind dwelt continually upon the
geography of the country, the Indian
names of lakes and rivers, and their
Specification, and upon whatever ira
dition might retain OF former travels
by early French explorers.
The Importance OF this survey was
fully appreciated by the man who had
it in charge. 1t is said that Nicollet
paid from his own pocket the expenses
OF q botanist, that the work might be
as thorough and complete as possible
inexpensive and limited as the under
taking. was, it furnished q model
upon which were organized the scien-
tiic explorations OF later years.
The name OF Nicollet deserves to be
connected, as it is, with the lakes and
streams OF the region which he sur
veyed. and to be remembered
Americans who enjoy the fruits OF tie
hard-earned learning OF the poor
Savovayd how